Signal control system



April 24,- 1934. HERsHEY 1,956,351

SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 13, 1930 Illlllllllj L Imreniur Ham"EHersha Wm m Patented Apr. 24, 1934 are r-A'rs 1,956,351 SIGNAL CONTROLSYSTEM Harry E. Hershey, Oak Park, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments,to Associated Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago,

of Delaware 111., a corporation The present invention relates 'ingeneral to signal control systems, but is particularly concerned withtheprovision of circuits and apparatus for controlling signalsandpe'rforming other switching functions automatically under'the controland coincident with the movement of a film.

The invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawing "comprisingFigs. 1 and 2; which show sufficient of the circuits and apparatus toenable the'invention to be readily explained.

As'illustrated, the invention is applied to equipment used in theproduction of sound motion'pictures, and is utilized to automaticallycontrol the volume of the sound amplifier. In addition a group ofservice'lamps are illustrated, with relays arrangedto vary theirintensity of illumination. In addition there are shown relays foraccomplishing any other desired switching operations considerednecessary'or desirable.

In Fig. l, the relays 11 to 14, inclusive, comprise a group employed incontrolling'the output volume of the sound amplifier. The relays 21 to29, inclusive, comprise a second groupoperable independent of thefirstgroup. As illustrated, relays 21 and 24 are utilized to control theintensity of the light produced by the associated red, blue, amber, andwhite lamps, and accomplish this function through the medium ofassociated heavy duty relays 21' and 24'. Relays 22, 23 and 25 to 29 maybe used to further control the associated lamps or to perform othercircuit switching functions.

' The group of counting relays 39 to 64, inclusive, (relays 43, 44, and49 to 62, inclusive, not shown) are provided for the purpose of enablingthe selection and operation of any relay in either of the foregoinggroups in accordance with the number of impulses transmitted to thecounting relay group.

The relay 3, under control of relays 1 and 2, functions to control thelocking circuit of the relay group comprising relays 11 to 14. The relay8, under control of relays 6 and 7-, is arranged to control the lockingcircuit of the relays 21 to 29.

The relay 75, under control of relays 2 and 7, functions to control therelease of the counting relay chain after each setting.

The relay 4 is under control of impulses transmitted from thephoto-electric cell and functions to control the setting of the countingrelays.

The slow-release relay 5 functions to hold positive battery ofi theoperating circuitstof relays 1 and 6 until the operation of thecountingrelay chain has determined which of these relays is to beoperated.

In Fig. 2 a small section of the film used is diagrammatically shown andat the margin-thereof illustrates the impulse track thereon whichcooperates in the usual manner with a photoelectric cell. As shown, it.will be noted that there are five frames between an impulse series andone frame between each two impulses of a series. In motion picture workthe film ordinarilytravels at a rate of 90 feet per minute, or 24 framesper second, so that with this arrangement each impulse will cover oneand one-half frames or three frames for the complete cycle, and theseimpulses will be delivered at approximately 8 per second.

Since there are only four relays inthe group controlling the output ofthe sound amplifienthe maximum time required to set one of these up willbe approximately one and one-half seconds. The maximum time required tochange a setvup in the second group will be approximately four seconds,because there are assumed to be nine possible set-ups in this group, andsince thesame chain of counting relays serves both groups,the fourimpulses necessary to change the first group must alway: be transmittedin any series transmitted to change a set up in the second group.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus may best be explainedby describing the operations as they take place. For this purpose itwill first be assumed that all of the apparatus is at normal, as shown,and that a section of the film, arranged to transmit one impulse, passesthe photo-electric cell. When this occurs positive battery flows throughthe photo-electric cell, through the associated amplifier, and the relay4 to negative battery; and since there is but one variation in thisseries the relay 4 will momentarily operate but once. Relay 4 uponenergizing, connects positive battery through its upper springs to relay5 and negative battery, and at its lower springs connects positivebattery over conductor 82, through the lower armature 'and restingcontact of relay 4% to the winding of relay 39 and negative battery.Relay39 operates over this circuit.

Relay 40 having restored to normal by this'time allows negative batteryto fiow'through the winding of relay 39, its upper springs, the windingof relay 40,. and the springs of relay 75 to positive battery. .Relay 40energizes and relay til-remains locked up over thistcircuit.

. The relayfi, uponrestoring, allows positive b'at- .tery to flow fromits springs, through the'wind- 2 ing of relay 1, conductor 83, the upperarmature and the resting contact of relay 46, the upper armature andresting contact of relay 42, and the upper armature and contact of relay40, conductor 86, and the lower winding of relay 11 to nega tivebattery, thereby causing the operation of relays 1 and 11, respectively.The relay 1 closes two circuits, the first from positive battery throughthe springs of relay 1, the winding of slow-to-operate relay 2, toconductor 85, and from the positive battery supplied through the springsof relay 1, through the upper armature and resting contact ofslow-to-operate relay 2, through the winding of relay 3 to the conductor85, over which common conductor negative battery is supplied through thelower springs of relay 39 and the resistance 87.

The relay 3 operates immediately, after which the slow-temperate relay 2operates and opens the circuit of relay 3. This momentary operation ofrelay 3 is for the purpose of momentarily removing positive battery fromthe hold conductor 88, thereby permitting the release of any previouslyoperated relay of this group. The deenergization of relay 3 causespositive battery to be again supplied over conductor 88, preparatory tolocking up relay 11. Relay 2, upon operating, also at its lower set ofsprings supplies positive battery over conductor 81 to the winding ofrelay '75 and negative battery. Relay accordingly operates and opens thelocking circuit of relays 39 and 40, thereby permitting them todeenergize preparatory to receiving a subsequent set-up.

Attention is called to the fact that on each pair of counting relays, amake spring combination is provided to feed negative battery through theresistance 87, and through the winding of relay 2, and the make springsof relay 1 to positive battery. Therefore, upon the deenergization ofcounting relay 39, negative battery is removed from conductor and therelay 2, accordingly restores and at its lower spring set again opensthe circuit of relay 75, which accordingly restores.

In the circuit operation described the relay 11, at its upper springs,bridged the resistance 100 across the loud speaker leads, therebydiminishing its volume output. If now the next impulse series receivedfrom the relay 4 comprises four impulses the relay 14 will be operatedand the relay 11 restored, thereby changing the sound volume inaccordance with the difference between resistances 100 and 104.

It will now be assumed that the relay 4 receives a code comprising fiveimpulses. The first of these impulses will cause the actuation ofcounting relays 39 and 40 in the same manner as in the case when onlyone impulse is transmitted. The relay 5, being slow-acting, will notdeenergize between the impulses of the series and, therefore, theoperation of relays 1, 2 and 3 cannot occur at any other time than atthe termination of an impulse series, which is always followed by thedeenergization of relay 4 for a time period required for five opaqueframes of the film to pass the photo-electric cell.

Upon the second energization of relay 4 positive battery on itslowermost springs passes over conductor 82, through the lower armatureand working contact of counting relay 40, through the lower armature andresting contact of relay 42, and'the winding of relay 41 to negativebattery. Relay 41 energizes over this circuit, at its lowermost springsconnects negative battery to the conductor 85 through the resistance 87independent of relay 39, and at its uppermost springs prepares anoperating circuit for relay 42 and a holding circuit for itself whichbecomes effective upon the termination of the second impulse to relay 4in the same manner as in the case of relays 39 and 40. The third impulsetransmitted to relay 4 causes the operation of counting relays 43 and44, not shown, while the fourth and fifth impulses of the series bringabout the actuation of counting relays 45 to 48, inclusive.

Upon the deenergization of slow-release relay 5, following thetransmission of this impulse series, positive battery flows from thesprings of this relay through the winding of relay 6, conductor 84,through the upper armature and resting contact of relay 64, the contactand upper armature of relay 48, conductor 89, to the lower winding ofrelay 21 and negative battery. Relay 21, accordingly, operates and atits lower spring sets modifies the intensity of the illumination of theassociated lamps in accordance with the setting of the associatedrheostats. It will be noted that, upon the energization of the relay 5,a circuit was closed from positive battery, through the springs of thisrelay, through the winding of slow-to-pull-up relay '7, to conductor 85,and from the upper terminal of relay '7 through its lower armature andresting contact, and through the winding of relay 8 to the conductor 85;and from this point on to negative battery through the lowermost springsof the operated counting relays and the resistance 87. Consequentlyimmediately following the energization of relay 6, relay 8 operates toremove positive battery from the holding circuit of the relay group21-29, in order to enable any previously operated relay of this group torestore. An instant later the slow-to-pull-up relay 7 energizes to openthe circuit of the relay 8 at its lowermost armature and at the frontcontact of this armature completes a locking circuit for itself. Therelay '7 also at its uppermost springs applies positive battery toconductor 81 to bring about the energization of release relay '75,thereby bringing about the release of the operated counting relays. Upondeenergization of the counting relays negative battery is removed fromthe conductor 85 and the relay 7, accordingly restores its armatures.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that applicant has provided arelatively simple and reliable set-up whereby an almost unlimited numberof switching operations can be automatically brought about coincidentand in accordance with the progressive movement of a film'through aprojecting machine and that the arrangement may be used independently ofor in conjunction with the production of silent or sound motionpictures.

Having described my invention what I consider to be new and desire tohave protected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a reproducing system, a sound record, means for reproducing soundwaves in accordance with said record, an impulse track divided intouniform lengths of opaque and transparent portions on said record, meanscooperative with said track, and groups of relays selectively controlledby said means in a manner dependent on the par- 11'."

ticular combinations of transparent and opaque portions passing it tofrom time to time regulate the volume of the sound reproducing means andto perform other switching operations respectively.

2. In a signaling system, a film, a projecting machine thru which thefilm may be moved, an impulse track on said film, a photo-electric cellcooperative With the impulse track and included in a circuit includingan impulsing relay, groups of circuit switching relays, and meanscontrolled by said impulsing relay in accordance with the impulsesreceived by it, through the medium of its photo-electric cell, to selectand operate any relay of any group.

3. In a signaling system, a film, a projecting machine through which thefilm may be moved, an impulse track on said film, a photo-electric cellcooperative With the impulse track and included in a circuit includingan impulsing relay, groups of circuit switching relays, means controlledby said impulsing relay in accordance with the impulses received by it,through the medium of its photo -electric cell, to select and operateany relay of any group, locking circuits for each relay of each group,and means operated consequent to the operation of any relay of any groupto interrupt the locking circuit of any previously operated relay ofsuch group.

4. In a signaling system, afilm having an impulse track thereon, aphoto-electric cell cooperating with said impulse track and controlledthereby, a relay variably controlled by said cell in accordance with theimpulses received from the impulse track, a plurality of devicescontrolling sound volume and lighting effects, said devices selectivelycontrolled by said relay in accordance with the impulses received fromsaid cell.

HARRY E. HERSHEY.

